Last week at the Mackinac Policy Conference was the first time we heard from U.S. Senate candidates Gary Peters and Terri Lynn Land during the same event.

But no, it was not a debate. Land and Peters both gave a pitch to why they should be the next U.S. senator from Michigan. When one candidate was speaking and answering questions, the other was in a different room recording a podcast.

The candidates were asked different questions. The media referred to it as the “non-debate”

So, will we see Terri Lynn Land and Gary Peters have debates this election? There were no debates in 2012 between Pete Hoekstra and incumbent U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

“We’re happy to debate as often as we can," Gary Peters told me during an interview on the island. “It’s very important people in the state of Michigan have an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates, given the fact this year we have an open senate seat.”

Terri Lynn Land, when asked, did not come out and directly say she'd debate Peters.

“I think what’s important is the voters hear exactly where we are on each of our positions, and I think that is how the decision is going to be made Nov. 4,” Land said during an interview. “We look forward to being out there and talking about our vision.”

Honoring Carl Levin

One of the most touching moments of the conference was the tribute to retiring Sen. Carl Levin by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Sandy Baruah, and fellow retiring Congressman John Dingell.

Snyder said, "Sen Levin has been a great steward and great leader for the state of Michigan…I hope we can still call on him for advice for an issue or two."

John Dingell, who has represented his district in Southeast Michigan since 1955, gave his heartfelt praise and admiration of Levin.

“The Levin’s have been friends of mine since I was in three quarters pants,” said Dingell, who is retiring in 2015 as the longest-serving member in the history of Congress.

Dingell described how he worked for Levin's uncle, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for Eastern Michigan Theodore Levin, and how the families campaigned for each other.

"We have relied so much on our family bond to move this state forward, few have done more for the people for Michigan than the wonderful Carl Levin," Dingell said.

After being introduced, Levin spoke about issues facing Detroit and Michigan, and thanked Snyder for his leadership in helping Detroit out of bankruptcy.

He also noted Snyder's work on a plan to fix roads. "To hear a Republican mention revenue is a great breakthrough," he cracked.

"In honor of our governor I decided not to wear a tie," Levin said. "This is something…my wife probably doesn’t recognize me without a tie. This is in your honor, governor. "

Watch the full 20-minute event here:

Island full of candidates

For the Michigan delegation, it was a candidates conference on Mackinac Island. All members of the House besides John Dingell were in Washington D.C. for votes. The Senate was not in session, so Debbie Stabenow was able to attend.

The conference included plenty of those hoping to join the next Michigan Congressional delegation.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow summed it up best in an interview: "I think we are transitioning to the next generation of leadership."

One of the new candidates is Paul Mitchell, running in the Republican primary to replace retiring Rep. Dave Camp. Mitchell has been to the conference before as a business leader.

"It doesn't change that dramatically," Mitchell said, referring to his attendance as a candidate. "You want to listen to people. If you want to be an effective policy maker you start by listening to the perspective of voters and the business community in your district and throughout the state."

Hansen Clarke said his one term in Congress will help him reestablish relationships and help Michigan. Clarke said he considered running for U.S. Senate and for the mayor of Detroit but ultimately decided to run for a chance to return to the House.

"I knew for certain I could make a positive difference in the lives of people in Metro Detroit by returning to Congress," Clarke said. "That I knew for sure, because I actually did it before."

Debbie Dingell is a familiar face at the conference, but this time was different: She is running to replace he husband John Dingell.